Author: clarnibass
Date: 2020-01-11 09:50
The low C# is often a slightly stuffier or airy note for reasons you can read about on this forum (or you already know about the compromise of this tone hole).
Can you remove and reassemble keys yourself?
First remove the C#/G# key (you need to first remove the D/A key/ring, then remove C#/G#, then mount back D/A) and check tone and intonation. Make sure to assemble the clarinet and not check just the upper joint. If tone is not better with the key off, probably no change to the pad would help. If it's significantly better, it might be possible to improve by changes to the pad and/or key height. Then consider intonation, it might be a compromise between the two (as far as best pad and venting).
>> Would a cork pad produce "cleaner" sound than Buffet's Gore-Tex pad? <<
It might. If the problem is partly from the pad "blocking" the hole, then a Goretex pad is stepped (assuming that's what they put there), which means it is larger than a (non-stepped) cork pad. A cork pad can also be shaped after being installed to taper towards the seat, making it even smaller (some new clarinets have a bunch of pads shaped that way).
>> Also, the chalumeau D is not as bright as the notes around it- it sounds slightly softer than E and C. <<
C and E are pretty much fully vented notes. D is a "half" vented note (not sure if it has a common term), so it is slightly different on many clarinets (including many Buffet clarinets). I'm wondering if they don't make the tone hole slightly larger and lower because of finger position...
>> ...so the left F/C feels very "definite" in its movement. <<
I'm not sure if you mean this is good or not. I'm not crazy about their design of this linkage, but their previous designs weren't that great either. For some years the angles were so off (sharp angle between lever and key linkage arm) that it seemed like the jig was defective, or someone was using it wrong (or the parts didn't come out correctly).
Post Edited (2020-01-12 13:04)
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The Clarinet BBoard
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